Part V: Electricity & Magnetism

Chapter 22 Electrostatics
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Electric Charges and Forces

There are two types of charge: positive charges and negative charges

REPEL

REPEL

ATTRACT

Like charges repel, opposite charges attract.

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Physics 1 (Garcia) SJSU

Electrons, Protons, & Atoms

Electrons carry negative charge. Protons carry positive charge.
Electrons are loosely bound to atoms Protons are tightly locked within the nucleus.
Helium atom

Electrons

Protons

Objects are usually neutral but can easily acquire or lose electrons to become charged.
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Charging by Friction/Contact
Electrons move easily so an object can become charged by rubbing electrons off the objects surface.
Brush your hair with a plastic comb. Walk across a carpet with plastic-soled shoes.
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Electrons taken off of fur onto rubber rod

Demo: Electroscope
The legs of an electroscope separate when the electroscope is charged due to the repulsion of like charge on the two legs.
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Charged ebonite rod deposits negative charge (electrons) onto electroscope.

Legs

Demo: Dial Electroscope

Alternative design for electroscope

Neutral

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Charged

Demo: Van de Graff Generator

Van de Graff deposits large quantities of excess charge on its globe. A person with long hair can become a human electroscope.

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Conservation of Charge
Charge cannot be created nor destroyed. Objects become charged by transfer of charges.
Electrons are rubbed off the hairs of a piece of fur, collecting and charging a plastic rod. Is the fur also charged? Positive or negative.
Rod & Fur Neutral

+ ++ ++
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Conductors & Insulators

Materials, such as metals, in which electrons flow freely are called electrical conductors. Materials, such as plastic and wood, in which electrons do not move easily are called electrical insulators. Materials, such as silicon, that can act as conductors or insulators under different conditions are called semiconductors.
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Plastic Insulators
Plastic insulation on step of van de Graff and charge wand keep charge from leaving the metal balls.

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Plastic insulation on wire prevents charge to leave wire except at the ends, where the Physics 1 (Garcia) SJSU conducting metal is exposed.

Demo: Tesla Coil

Air is an insulator but at high voltages it can conduct electricity as lightning.

Portable Tesla coil

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Tesla Coils
Very high voltages achieved by large Tesla coils.
Homemade, backyard model Frys Superstore, Fremont CA

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Coulombs Law
Electric force has magnitude given by
(Electric Force) = (k) x
( Charge of Object A ) x ( Charge of Object B) ( Distance ) x ( Distance )

DISTANCE Object A Object B

Force

Force

Equal and opposite forces (Newtons Third law) 15-Jun-12

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Demo: Induce the Can

Charges separate in the can. Force of attraction is stronger since opposite charges are closer.
Can Rolls

+
Repulsion Force

Metal Can (Neutral)

+ + + +

Attraction Force

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Charging by Induction
Can separate charges by inducing them to opposite sides of a conducting object.

Start Neutral

Induce +s to one side

Allow s to Escape

Finish with net + charge

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Demo: Electrophorus
The electrophorus consists of a plastic plate and a metal disk with an insulated handle.

Bring metal disk to plate; separate charge Charge plastic plate by rubbing it with fur

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----------++++++++++ ------------Physics 1 (Garcia) SJSU

------------Remove electrons; plate positively charged

++++++++++

Demo: Electroscope & Induction

The legs of the electroscope separate when charged rod brought near the electroscope. Charge induction pushes electrons into the legs.
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++ ++ + +

Negatively charged rod repels electrons so they move as far away as possible.

Legs

Lightning Storms
Charge separates inside of thunderclouds. The lower part of the cloud is negatively charged. This induces a positive charge on the ground. When the voltage difference is high enough, a lightning bolt can occur.

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Demo: Lightning Rod

Charge flows readily to and from sharp metal points. Purpose of a lightning rod is to discharge a building before lightning occurs.
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Discharge

Lightning Rods

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Demo: Electric Pinwheel

Pinwheel turns as charge leaves the Van de Graff from the points at the tips of the spokes.
Charged Air molecules

Van de Graff
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Charge Polarization
Charge polarization occurs when the positions of the electrons and protons in an atom are skewed.

Polarized Atoms

Neutral

Polarized Charged Rod

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Demo: Static Cling

Charged object attracts a neutral insulator by inducing charge polarization in the neutral object.

Charged Balloon

Polarization

Neutral Wall
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Charged Comb

Neutral Paper

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Check Yourself
What causes a stream of water to be deflected when you bring a charged object next to it?

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Electric Field Lines

Electric field lines indicate the direction of electric force if a positive charge was placed in the electric field.
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Demo: Streamers
Paper streamers attached to the van de Graff show the direction of the electric field.

Similar to hairraising demo

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Lab: Electric Field Lines

In lab you map out electric field lines and electric potential

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Electric Potential Energy

Potential energy associated with electric force, similar to potential energy associated with gravitational force.

Gravity Force

Electric Force

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Electric Potential
Electric potential is potential energy per charge, like temperature is internal energy per molecule.
5000 F ?

Check Yourself: Is this safe?

Both situations are safe because the total amount of energy is small
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Capacitors
Capacitors are used to store separated positive and negative electric charges.
Basic design is pair of conducting plates insulated from each other. Industrial capacitor

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Demo: Discharging a Capacitor

Charged capacitor holds enough charge to light a light bulb when discharged.

Low voltage (low electric potential) but LARGE amount of charge Dangerous!
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Physics 1 (Garcia) SJSU